Posted on 11/23/2022 6:56:32 AM PST by george76
It looks like the trains may stop running on time for Christmas.
On Monday, the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the largest railroad union in the country, narrowly voted down a contract offered by the White House. That means the possibility of a strike just in time for the holiday season.
The SMART Transportation Division, or SMART-TD, which represents about 28,000 conductors, rejected the contract in a vote that garnered record turnout, the union said Monday. The contract was nixed by a slim margin, as just 50.8% of workers voted against it.
The second-largest rail union, made up of engineers, voted in favor of the contract on Monday, splitting the top rail unions, which represent roughly half of the industry’s workers.
This is significant because back in September, Biden proudly announced his administration had reached an agreement with railroad unions to avoid a strike. However, at the time, unions did not confirm the agreement, leading to speculation that the only agreement Biden reached was for everyone to be quiet until midterm elections were over.
...
There are eleven railroad unions. The White House contract can only be ratified if all eleven unions agree. So far only four of the unions have done so. Unless SMART-TD can negotiate a deal they feel comfortable with, a strike seems inevitable. All eleven unions have agreed they won’t cross picket lines should a strike be called.
A railroad strike during the busiest season of the year could spell disaster for an already struggling economy. It could also create an even more serious drag on the supply chain. Americans ship trillions of tonnes of products by train every year. In 2020, America’s freight trains shipped over 2.1 trillion tonne-kilometers (one tonne of goods per one kilometer) across the country.
“It looks like the trains may stop running on time for Christmas.”
Socialists Rejoice! Whatever helps to ruin Christmas for the rest of us gives them great pleasure.
My Christmas Shopping is done; has been for months. I buy things as I see them year-round versus the last minute panic that the season can bring. It’s going to be a lean one this year, and everyone has already been told.
“You’re getting a cheap bottle of wine and some off-brand cheese and crackers from ALDI - and you’ll LIKE IT!” :)
Merry Brandonmas, Everyone! *SMIRK*
Ah, a woman after my own heart. GMTA. I do the same.
Although, I wonder if it’s really going to ruin Christmas or jsut get the focus back on what Christmas is truly all about.
If the trains stop running, then the trucks stop delivering, then the shelves empty out, then people mad rush the stores for whatever’s left, and if they’re not prepped for this, they will come after anyone who is prepped.
If you can’t defend it, you don’t don’t own it.
The best thing ever built in railroads before the country collapsed for good in Atlas Shrugged.
Those ding dongs better stick around . . . unless they’re really just playing a part in the ruination of the country, along with Biden and some of the RR Unions, via a major rail strike.
I am betting that a rail strike will happen. Biden recently stated to expect economic problems coming. I wondered what he was talking about.
It is the coming rail strike and he is all for it.
The democrats want to cripple the economy even more.
They view destroying jobs and having people being more dependent on the democrats as a positive.
I will watch my AMD stock which has gone recently gone up nearly 30% this past month. If I read stories that a strike will happen I will sell and watch the stock market fall and later will buy more AMD stock back at a lower price.
#23 then the shelves empty out
Buy toilet paper NOW!!!
I bought commercial packages (20 rolls) of Scott many years ago and have 30 of them stockpiled in the basement (17 6-level shelves) with ***everything*** else. They don’t make those packages any more.
“...or just get the focus back on what Christmas is truly all about. “
The world needs more of THAT! :)
When my boys were learning to read, we read the ‘Little House’ books together; they one page, then me the next. They were completely FASCINATED with the Christmas story where Laura and Mary got mittens Ma had knit, a tin cup Pa had made and a candy cane and a REAL ORANGE. Those girls were in heaven.
Surprisingly, my 80’s-raised (somewhat materialistic, though Country Raised) kids didn’t scoff at it at all; they had the same sense of WONDER that Mary & Laura did.
Made my heart smile. :)
Good for you.
Me too.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I'm one of those who got most of his Christmas shopping done early and am feeling pretty good about it. But this strike could in fact affect what Christmas is really all about: presents for ME!
Kidding.
#28 Won’t the toilet paper expire....? : )
I bet there is a gov’t mandated expiration date stamped on them.
“I bought commercial packages (20 rolls) of Scott many years ago and have 30 of them stockpiled in the basement (17 6-level shelves) with ***everything*** else. They don’t make those packages any more.”
No “use by” or expiration date found on any of them...
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